sass and class in the bluegrass: August 2017

Hey Ya'll! It's been a little bit since I have posted life lately update. I am just over her trying to get in the back to school groove on top of adjusting to 9 hour shifts at work. When I went back to my old job I had the opportunity to add hours to my work week but still only work 4 days a week. This was a God send financially but also being able to have off every Wednesday gives me a break right in the middle of the week. You know right when you don't know how you are going to survive the rest of the week! We have had a lot going on so I thought I would share plus some tips for the Lilly Pulitzer After Party Sale (just doing a happy dance for this sale....it's my fave all year)!!

Let's start with the Eclipse. How cool was that? I was worried I would miss it since I had to work, but one of my wonderful coworkers brought in several Solar Eclipse glasses for us all to share. We started taking turns taking a peek at it at 1p and then we all got the chance to run out. It was such a neat experience. There was a lot of employees, doctors, administrators and even a few patients checking it out. It was also Nick's birthday. I joked that I planed the whole thing for him since he is so hard to buy for lol.

On Wednesday last week we put Meredith on the school bus for the first time. If I said I wasn't a little nervous or apprehensive I would be lying. She has to get on the bus in our subdivision and switches buses at the high school before being dropped off at school in the mornings and again in the afternoon. She was so nervous too, but when she got home she said she LOVED it!! What a relief!! Because really if she hated it she would still have to ride it. So my mommy heart is happy that it all is working out so far.

Big girl waiting on the school bus

The biggest thing going on around here is dealing with our sick dog. Poor Sophie girl has been sick for 2 weeks. Nick took her to the vet finally last Monday. She had a temp, infected ears, infected tooth, elevated liver and gallbladder enzymes and had lost 15-20 lbs. She had been vomiting and not eating. After close to $500 (which made us want to vomit) at the vet and some meds by the middle of the week she still wasn't any better. I posted on facebook and got some great feedback and advice. Thanks everyone who reached out and gave us advice. She is starting to perk up but she isn't 100% back to our ole girl.

On my off day last week I had my own little Lipsense helper. We packaged and mailed out some orders. I am wearing the perfect fall color below....bella! Message me if you need a new fall color for yourself !! After Mere got home from school it was off to the dentist! My kids love going to the dentist which thank goodness because it gives me anxiety for myself. I am thrilled they aren't like that.

Nick finally finished our brick mailbox. It looks amazing. He worked so hard on it and it paid off. Now that the mailbox is complete I have a list of other projects that need completed. I would love to repaint our living room a nice light grey color along with our upstairs hallway (then hang the kids art work up there). Max's bedroom also is in need of an update. We also want to add brick to enlarge our patio. So if you know of anyone needed to get rid of brick let me know!! Lots of projects to keep the hubby busy.

Saturday afternoon Mere had a soccer game and had 3 goals. This girl and her team are so fun to watch. I always envisioned myself being a cheer mom (well I was a cheerleader and in gymnastics for many years....maybe I need another girl....hmmmm) but being a soccer mom sure is fun too!

The kids were wanting to go camping but there just hasn't been a weekend to go. I think I have one in September where we can go and we are planning a camping weekend for Max's birthday party. In the mean time Nick wins daddy of the year. He set up the tent in our back yard on Saturday evening. We had s'mores and enjoyed a fire. Nick and I even slept in the tent too! Nick woke up Sunday morning and then fixed us all breakfast while I busted out a quick walk. I was even able to clean, dust, vacuum the whole house before church. We then cooked out steaks for dinner! Yum. It was a great , relaxing weekend that I hated to see end. Of course, next weekend is Labor Day. I feel like it was just Memorial Day weekend. It is our church festival so I signed Mere up to work a shift Saturday evening. Then on Sunday we will head to Augusta like we do every Labor Day weekend for our favorite, the Frog Derby!!

Now for the best part of this post!!! Tomorrow starts the Lilly After Party Sale. This happens only twice a year. It is the perfect time to stock up on a few of your favorite pieces. I have in my sights a pair of shorts and a dress. Here are a few tips if you are new to this sale. This sale is going to last until Wednesday so check back each day for new items added!!

1. This year’s sale will run for THREE DAYS, starting today (Monday) at 8am and ending on Wednesday at midnight.

2. All sale items are FINAL and cannot be returned, even for store credit.

3. When checking out, make sure and double check your order before placing it. You cannot change your order once you click submit. Create an account beforehand, to save you a lot of time when checking out.

4. With the HIGH VOLUME of orders being processed, shipments will take a little longer to get to you. You will receive a shipment confirmation email once your package leaves our warehouse.

5. If you’re wondering why this sale is such a BIG DEAL, Lilly only has two online sales per year. One in January and one in August.

6. Shipping is FREE! If there’s anything you know you REALLY want, check out quickly with that item(s) first. Then if you want, you can always go back for more. When you go back to shop again you’ll be added to the back of the virtual line. So I’d recommend adding as many of your favorites to your cart the first time, since you’re in. As always, they’re not reserved until you check-out, so get shopping quickly!

7. Lilly will be implementing their VIRTUAL LINE again for this sale. Meaning that once you’re on the site, you will be put in a line before you can enter the site. Don’t let the number you are stop you from staying on the site. Last year it only took me about ten minutes to get through the line and shop. Once you finish shopping and check out, you will be redirected to the back of the virtual line if you want to shop again.

8. One MAJOR TIP, if possible, have at least two form of technology in front of you to SHOP. Maybe even consider opening multiple browsers if you can. I will be shopping from my phone since I will be at work!

9. Go ahead and make a potential SHOPPING LIST. Head to the site and browse different styles and prints. Have your favorites ready, so you’re not trying to remember them off the top of your head tomorrow, while you’re trying to shop. If you have little girls size up for next summer. It's the perfect time to get swimsuits or dresses for then.

10. HAPPY SHOPPING!!!

Have a great week ya'll!!

Our vacation to Charleston seems like a million days ago and I realized I never shared our last days there. It was rainy but we made the best of it. There is so much to do in Charleston that there was no way we would let a little rain ruin the end of vacation.Since we knew rain was in the forecast we got up early on Tuesday and made our way back to the Isle of Palms for a little beach time. We were able to soak up as much sea and sun as possible but by early afternoon the sky opened up and dropped buckets of rain! We tried to wait it out to see if it would pass but it wasn't happening. We got a few laughs trying to grab our things and run to the truck!

We made it back to our hotel and just lounged around. But we were getting stir crazy (it doesn't take much) and the kids were begging for the pool. But it was so yucky out although what did it matter they were gonna get wet anyway. So off we went with a little wine in hand for momma. For dinner we wanted something quick and simple. We had a Publex right next to our hotel and we spotted some fried chicken on a previous visit. I ran over there with the kids and grabbed chicken and a few sides. We were supposed to get our family pictures taken but the weather just wasn't cooperating. This made me the most sad. Our photographer has been snapping pics of our family when it was just little Mere . Our found her site right before our first trip! She has watched our family grow!

On Wednesday it was STILL raining!! We had never toured any of the historical homes in downtown Charleston. The rain gave us the perfect excuse to finally take a step back in time. The first tour was at the Nathaniel Russell House . Visitors learn about the Russell family and the enslaved African Americans who lived there maintaining one of the nation’s grandest antebellum townhouses. An exhibition in the original kitchen house highlights artifacts uncovered during archaeological investigations at the site—pottery sherds, beads, and part of a slave tag. The tour lasts around 30 minutes. We weren't sure how it would go with 2 kiddos (one being a wild 4 yr old) but our tour guide was a retired teacher who included them during the whole way!

Tickets are $12, and may be purchased at the door.

Visit both House Museums for $18.

Children ages 6-16 are $5 and can visit both for $10. Children ages 5 and younger are free.

No reservation necessary

LOCATION ~51 Meeting Street, two blocks from Broad Street.

Monday - Saturday : 10 a.m. - 5 p.m
Sunday : 2 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Last tour begins at 4:30 p.m.

The next home we toured was the Aiken Rhett House which is Located on the corner of Judith and Elizabeth streets. Charleston merchant John Robinson built the house in 1820 as a typical Charleston double house with a central hallway and two rooms on either side. The original front entrance was located on Judith Street, where the piazza, a Charleston term for a double side porch, is now located. When Robinson lost five ships at sea in 1825, he was forced to sell the house to meet his financial obligations. Subsequently, it became the property of William Aiken Sr. in 1827. This home is unique in many ways. One is that it remained in the hands of family descendents for 142 years until it was sold to The Charleston Museum and opened as a museum house in 1975. Historic Charleston Foundation purchased the house in 1995 and adopted a conservation approach to the interpretation of this important house and its outbuildings.

LOCATION

48 Elizabeth Street, two blocks from the Charleston Visitor Center.

Monday - Saturday : 10 a.m. - 5 p.m
Sunday : 2 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Last tour begins at 4:15 p.m.

Features the only "audio tour" in Charleston

After soaking in so much history we walked around for a little bit before dinner at our favorite spot in Charleston, Vickery's on Shem Creek in Mt. Pleasant. The views alone are worth going here for some good ole Southern food! I always recommend this place to any traveling to Charleston! You must sit outside too. The best time to go is around 6pm when the shrimp boats are coming in to off load their catches of the day. This is the time you can also see the dolphins playing in the creek!

Our last day we got up bright and early to prepare for the long drive home. After loading up the car we headed downtown one last time. We do this each trip. I have to soak in as much of the low country as possible to last a whole year until I smell the pluff mud again. This time we grabbed cupcakes AGAIN from Cupcakes Down South and stopped for some final pictures by the pineapple fountain.